New homes for Padiham eyesore mill site?

Burnley company Calico has confirmed that the long-standing eyesore of Padiham’s former Perseverance Mill is being looked at as a possible site for new houses.

The site, once branded “the worst eyesore in the borough”, has proved a nightmare for neighbours in recent years – being plagued by fly-tippers, firebugs and vandals for years.

Now, the successful Burnley-based Group has confirmed to the Express it is examining the site in Dryden Street.

Wendy Malone, Calico’s head of Development, said: “Perseverance Mill is one of a number of locations we’re potentially looking at for future developments to help us reach our target of building 463 new affordable homes across Burnley and Padiham by 2019.

“No firm decisions have been made yet, and everything is still in the very early stages.”

The Burnley Express reported last month that Burnley Borough Council had submitted an application for a government grant to help the potential redevelopment of the site.

The bid comes as members of Perseverance Area Residents’ Association raised concerns over the state of the former mill, which is also believed to be infested with rats and asbestos.

Two years ago a contractor was employed by the landowner to clear the site but, although some work was done, residents say it still has a long way to go and said fly-tipping has begun again on the site because not all of it is fenced off.

Mr Robin Willoughby, treasurer of the residents’ group, said: “I hope this is true. The site has great potential for new houses and this is something many residents have thought for a long time.

“I’m sure most people would support any reasonable residential development to tranform what is still very much an eyesore.”

The owner of the mill has been prosecuted by Burnley Council but Mr Willoughby said more needs to be done to tackle the problems at the site.